Packing stand assembly



May 12, 1953 G. c. PAxToN 2,638,216

PACKING STAND ASSEMBLY Filed OGt. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l STATION B STATION A INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Ma l2 1 y 953 G. c. PAxToN 2,638,216 PACKING STAND ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 2, 1948 2 sh eets-Sheet 2 INVENroR GI C. Pax fon ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1953 2,638,216 PACKING STAND Assemini Gerald CQ T axton, Sanger, Galif., as signor to 'Gencraiailing Machine drportn', Sanger, fGMf., aoopotation of California i Application pctolicr 2, 198=Seria1 No. 52,540

This invention relates to, 4arid an object is to .provide, a pakng stand assembly t support loaded eld lage or boxes .Oi ,fruit in ,aposition, at predetermined stations.; ,for ready and convenient access an' operator whoinanually removes the fruit from .each Held' klug and packs such fruit, by grade', in shipplf'g'bpxes. l

While vthe above packing" stand' assembly is designed especially for thesgrape packing' industry, it `is equally as useful inxconnectipn with the packing y'of other fruitsI or" vegetables.

Another .object of the inyention 'is 'to provide a packing stand' assembly which embodies a novel Vconveyor and" supporting` .:arran'gement operative to Afeed loadedeld x'es, one .at a time, to each `packing station and :to then support each box in aposition'adjacent"boltv clear of the Acorresponding -packing vstandV so that the operator, with a lminimum ofy effort, can effect transfer of such box fromthesupport 'to the packing Astand after unloading of `the previous box on said stand.

An `aaditi-mai object ofthe invention 4is to priovid'e a packing stand .assembly 'which embodies, in each stan-d, a novel disblillg and" carryoiy structure; sch strcture' being` formed in a manner such that each ibex', alter being 1inkloaded, is'easilyzmanually"llfljped from the. stand, and thence slidesonto a :carry-olf eonyey'or.

A `further `object of theinvention jis Vto pro- 'vide` a packirigistand' assemblfywliich is arranged to accelerate the handling` ol fruit, .Sironi-supported -ield boxes, 'for' :the purpose of vpaeking for shipment; Athe entire assembly' beinadesigned to minimize 'manual effort, and to eifilpeditethe process.

vIt is also an object of theinvention to provide -a packing :stand assembly .which is Lo'f sirnplified construction', embodying few moving `or driven parts, :andthus'fredlrig a minimum 0f maintenance or repair.

A further object of the .invention is to" p"r0 vide a 'practical andrlifablepacking stand assammy, arianne which will be ,exc beliefs fective for the purpose for Whie ,isldesig'ned These objects are .acedmplishedby n,means `of such structure and lrelative arrangement of parts as'will fully appear "byia-perlsal ojf the ,followingspecication and claims.

In the drawings:v A

Fig. 1 is a'fragmentaryplan `View .di `,thematieing stand assembly,I Slidw'lhs'twolofthe' packing stations.

Referring now more particularly" to the chari claims. (Cl. 20921-229 Z peters reference on the drawings, the packstand assembly comprises an elongated,` upstanding mainl frame, indicated generally at i', including rear posts 2, front posts 3, and. end hearthll 4,

At longitudinally spaced points along the `frame f .there ,are separate packing stations, each attended by an operator; the Apresent embodiment illustrating two such" stations, identified in 1 as station A and -station e."

'llo-the rear `of the :packing stations; and on top of the 'frame i, there is a longitudinal, box conyeyor which comprises the following structural arssmntr.

`'herne'jiri frame I is fitted, on 120D and at the rear, by a longitudinalbaek rail '5 provided, on the ifront side, with a plurality of spaced rollers 6; such rollers thus being in a 'longitudinal few' rfor box supportas will hereinafter appear. The rollers are end anged, as at `-l, at their inner ends, whereby '.to prevent supported boxes from vshifting into engagementA with the back rail 5.

Forwardly ofthe longitutlinal row of rollers 6, the main frame Al is iitted with a pair of longitllldinall beams il in adjacent but spared apart parallel relation; there being small rollers 9 'journaled between said `beams to support the upper run I of an endless chain; such. upper runibeing driven in the direction indicated by the' arrow Fig; 1,

The upper run l0l of the endless chain is disposed' lin a horizontal plane somewhat higher than the upper working rsurface of the rollers Bwhereby a transversely disposed box llrests on'saidroll'ers 6 and `4upper Vrun it] at a rear- Awardj and downward incline. VThe upper run `il] lofthe endless chainy Aengages the Lbottom of -each rearwardly rirl-clilred vboxl l slightly beyond its `center a `rearward direction, so that such box `may be easily and -conveniently tilted forwardly by hand; i. -e. in the-direction `inilicated by the Iarrow iri Fig; 2. 4

liherziores `M, whldh are "deld boxes or lugs filled with fruit,` are Hfed,ontogthe longitudinal conveyor, comprised' of theroller's t and upper -rni from-oneI end1 of` saidconveyonand thence travel withftlie same -to the respective `pa'elzing stations. As the boxes advance one reachesySjt'ai- `tion' B 4andabuts adinedstop t2', and thenceremai-ps ateaid station with `the Lip-per run lil of the chain slipping beneath 1the box. As long as such'pbox remains at Station .Boon the conveyor; it actuates a teeter-bar-.type stop unit 1 3 Whiqii Stopsthenextiqllowine ber ii .attation A; the aupper run HJ of the endless chain `then likewise slipping below said next following box. In this manner a filled box is maintained on the conveyor at each of the packing stations at all times, and preparatory to movement of each such box onto the corresponding packing stand, hereinafter described.

The endless chain which includes the upper run I turns at the ends of the main frame I about direction-changing sprockets (not shown) encased in a housing III, one sprocket including a drive shaft I to which a suitable driving motor unit is connected.

The endless chain is disposed so that its lower run I6 returns lengthwisethrough the frame I at a relatively low point and in a vertical longitudinal plane some distance ahead of the upper is identical, a description of one such stand will suffice for all:

At each packing station the main frame I is fitted, on top thereof, with a pair of transverse frame bars which extend from the adjacent longitudinal beam 8 rst upwardly a short distance and thence at a forward and downward incline to connection with a top front rail 2l on said main frame I. The frame bars are spaced apart, in parallel relationship, a distance slightly greater than the endwise width of each box II, and are disposed to opposite sides, in symmetrical relation, of a box stopped above on the conveyor for manual withdrawal onto the packing stand.

When the operator desires a filled box I I on the packing stand, the stopped, rearwardly inclined box above on the conveyor is grasped :at

`the front and pulled slightly forwardly, causing the box t0 tilt downward, whence it travels forwardly and endwise on rollers 22 carried on a cross shaft 23 between the bars 20 at a point near the adjacent beam 8.

As each such box runs forwardly on the rollers 22, it engages and travels by gravity down slide plates 24 which project laterally inwardly from the bars 2D. A

The box continues to advance endwise until it abuts the front rail 20, then being in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

With each box on the packing stand in such position, i. e. inclined forwardly and downwardly, the fruit is within easy reach of an operator standing at the station; the fruit being liftedfrom Llo such box, manually graded, and placed into a shipping box on an adjacent stand (not shown). All reject or cull fruit is dropped into a cull hopper 25 which projects outwardly from the front rail 2l below the same. The cull hopper 25 delivers, within the main frame I, onto an endless longitudinal cull conveyor 26, which runs in a trough 21. The cull hopper 25 includes a swing gate 28 to control the flow of culled fruit in the hopper 25 onto the cull conveyor 25.

When each box, on the packing stand, has been unloaded, it is easily discharged and carried oif as follows:

With the exception of a relatively narrow, continuing part or extension 24a, which extends to the front rail 2| from one slide plate 24, said slide plates terminate, as at 29, a distance from the front rail 2| slightly greater than the height of each box. Each box, as initially advanced onto the packing stand, is shifted laterally by an in- 4 wardly facing, downwardly inclined cam plate 30 on the bar 20 opposite the slide extension 24a, into engagement with the other frame bar 2D so that in full advanced position said extension 24a supports the front end portion of the box at one side. Such lateral shifting of the box is possible by reason of the fact that the bars 20 are spaced, as previously ..described,l a. distance somewhat greater than Athe end widthof each box.

After each box II is unloaded, the operator grasps the box at the rear end and swings such box upwardly and forwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow, from the dotted line position to the broken line position, as in Fig. 2; the front rail 2| serving as a fulcrum over which the box is turned endwise to inverted position. As

the box inver-ts it slides, with the normally open top undermost, between the front rail 2I and the ends 29 of the slide plates 24; the box being shifted slightly laterally by hand, to clear the slide extension 28.

As the inverted box passes through the opening between the front rail 2I and ends 29 of the slide plates 24, it is received by spaced slides 30 which extend at a rearward and downward incline above the cull conveyor 26. As a result any fruit, leaves, or debris remaining in the box falls between the slides 3U onto the cull conveyor 2G to be carried away.

From the spaced slides 30, the inverted box moves 'byl gravity on a continued rearward and downward path; being turned downward by an upstanding, forwardly concave deflector 3I to an endwise position, resting on the lower run I6 of the endless chain. Once the box is disposed endwise on the lower run I6 of the endless chain, it is conveyed longitudinally through the main frame I toward one end thereof for discharge; being maintained in proper position on said run by an upper longitudinal guide 32 above the deiector SI, engaging one side of the box near the top, and transversely spaced lower longitudinal guides 33 on opposite sides of the box near the bottom. Each box normally inclines rearwardly, when on the lower run I6 of the endless chain. and rests-adjacent the top-against the upper longitudinal guide 32. l

With the described packing stand assembly, a loaded box is constantly maintained above each packing stand for ready access by the operator, and for manual displacement to slide downward onto the packing stand.

After unloading of each box, its discharge and carry-off results from a further simple manipula- Ition of the box which requires no great eilort on the part of the operator; the discharge and carryoff being accomplished quickly to the end that the next loaded box may vbe brought onto the stand for attention. Additionally, as the boxes ar-e inverted above the cull conveyor 26, each box is clelan when it is fed out of the frame I by the run 6.

The packing stand assembly is thus a convenient, practical, and reliable structure for its intended purposes. I

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted'to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A packing stand assembly comprising an upstanding frame, a box support on the frame spaced rearwardly of the front thereof, another box support on the frame in front of said rear support, said support being adapted to receive boxes thereon lengthwise toward the front and for transfer from the rear to the front support, said front support including a forwardly and downwardly inclined slide having an opening in its lower end portion through which a. box may pass endwise only, and means in the frame to receive each box passed through said opening; said rear support including a power `driven conveyor', and stop means to locate a box on said support in a predetermined position for transfer to the front support; said conveyor extending transversely of the direction of box transfer between the supports, and comprising a conveyor run supporting each box from below intermediate its ends, and a row of rollers lying in a lower horizontal plane than the conveyor run supporting each box from below at the rear end of the box.

2. A packing stand assembly, as in claim 1, in which said conveyor run engages each box close to its center of gravity in a rearward direcu tion.

3. A packing stand assembly, comprising an upstanding frame, a box support on the frame rearwardly of the front thereof, a front support on the frame in position for direct transfer of a box lengthwise from the rear support, the iront support including a forwardly and downwardly inclined slide, a box stop at the lower end of the slide, there being an opening in the lower portion of the slide through which a box may endwise only, a downwardly opening chute extending in the frame at a downward and inward incline from adjacent and below said opening, a cull conveyor in the frame running below the open chute, the latter extending across the con--` vevor, and a box carry-off conveyor rearwardly of and parallel to the cull conveyor in position to receive each box discharged from said open chute.

4. A packing stand assembly comprising an upstanding frame, a box support and conveyor unit spaced rearwardly from the front of the frame in parallel relationship, said box support and conveyor unit including a longitudinal row of rollers at the rear and the upper run of an endless conveyor spaced in front of said row of rollers, each box extending lengthwise transversely of the support and conveyor unit with said upper run adjacent the center of balance of said box lengthwise thereof, a front support on the frame in position for direct transfer of a box lengthwise from the rear support and conveyor unit, the front support including a forwardly and downwardly inclined slide, and a box stop at the lower end of said slide.

5. A packing stand assembly comprising an upstanding frame, a box support on the frame, there being an opening associated with the support to permit a box on the support to be projected endwise through and to a point below the support, a downwardly and inwardly inclined chute below the support and adapted to receive and guide a box projected from the support, such chute including slide bars laterally spaced apart to form an open space therebetween whereby refuse from an inverted box on the slide bars will fall through said space, and a refuse collector disposed below said space.

6. A stand assembly as in claim 5 including a continuously moving conveyor disposed at a point below and rearwardly of the inner end of the chute, and means associated with the chute and frame and effective to upend a box leaving the chute and deposit it edgewise on the conveyor.

'7. A packing stand assembly comprising an upstanding frame, a rear box support on the frame, a front box support in iront of said rear support and adapted to receive a box when uioyed laterally of its length from said rear support, the front support including side guide members spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a box, and leaving an opening therebetween, a box stop member defining the front end of said opening, downwardly and forwardly inclined box-supporting plates extending forwardly over said opening along the sidesA thereof from the rear end of the support and terminating at their forward end a distance from the stop member less than the width of a box but greater than the height of such box, a relatively narrow forward projection of one slide plate extending alongside the adjacent side member to the stop member and leaving a space between said extension and the opposite side member whose extent is slightly greater than the length of a box, and an element on the other slide plate to shift a box lengthwise and against said adjacent side member upon such box being pulled from the rear support onto the front support, whereby said box when so shifted will be supported over said opening by said slide plates and the extension, and a chute under the opening in position to receive a box when tilted for sidewise passage through the portion of the opening in front of the slide plates.

GERALD C. PAXTON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date' Re. 15,813 Kuhn Apr. 8, 1924 1,093,815 Whittier Apr. 21, 1914 1,641,642 Pangborn Sept. 6, 1927 1,905,477 Luce Apr. 25, 1933 2,335,417 Huston Nov. 30, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 52,275 Sweden Apr.` 19, 1917 

